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一些容易误译的英文口语1

  英文中,有许多口语句子的意思往往不能从字面上去理解,下面我们来看看有哪些容易误译的句子吧。

  1. Tell me about it!

  A: Do you know under the newly reformed tax plan, the rich people actually pay less tax?

  B : Yeah, tell me about it! My neighbor is a millionaire and he told me that his tax rate would be reduced by fifty percent.

  在这里,tell me about it不是要求对方告诉你什么事,而是附和,并带有惊讶的成分。

  再如:

  A: Under such harsh economic down turns, the working class can hardly make ends meet.

  B : Tell me about it! In my family alone two people got laid off. I don't know how I can make the mortgage payment this month.

  2. What else is new?

  A : Hey, do you know the new governor is going to cut the funding for education?

  B: What else is new? We all know he represents big businesses. Education is not his top priority.

  在这里,What else is new表示,这种结局是预料之中的事,不算什么新闻。

  所以,根据上下文,也可说“这算不上什么新闻”。

  再如:

  A : Yesterday my daughter gave me a gift wish list for her 15th birthday Among other things she asks for a laptop computer!

  B: What else is new? At least she hasn't asked for a car. Wait till next year!

  3.zero hour

  (x)零点

  (〇)关键时刻

  这个惯用语始于1917年第一次世界大战期间,用来表示发动某一项军事行动的时刻。

  负责下令的军官会看着手表上的秒针倒数计时,一旦秒针走到零点,就会下达出动指令。

  后来hour跳脱了军事用语的局限,泛指生活中各种情况里的“关键、决定性时刻"

  4.a babe in arms 

  扶不起的阿斗

  解析:babe(注意!不是“baby”)在这里解释为“天真,不谙世故而易受骗者”,如同“襁褓中的婴儿”。

  例:The chairman's son is a babe in arms.

  He doesn't have the ability to be the CEO of the company.


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